MEMPHIS, Tenn. — City leaders are questioning the amount of power an organization known for bringing in economic growth to the area has.
Memphis Council member Wanda Halbert said a future meeting will be held to discuss the future of EDGE, or the Economic Development Growth Engine, for Memphis and Shelby County.
Wanda Halbert said EDGE is growing in a different direction than expected.
She told us City Council and County Commission both expressed their concerns about this as well.
The goal of EDGe was to help businesses of all sizes grow in Memphis and Shelby County.
It’s a way to bring new jobs to the area; although EDGE said it helps to bring great projects to the community.
Some wondered if EDGE has too much power.
“No they’re wanting to have a public joint meeting to discuss exactly where is EDGE going and where would we like for it to go, and if we need to put any perimeters or boundaries around their authority,” she said.
Reid Dulberger, who’s the president of EDGE, said when Council and Commission created the organization, there was a joint resolution outlining its role.
“There is nothing we’re doing today that isn’t in the joint resolution that Council and Commission approved so as far as I know. We’re following the blue print they gave us back in 2011,” he stated.
Halbert said there’s also a concern about the number of business tax breaks, called Pilots, being issued in Memphis.
According to Smart City Memphis, 458 were issued in Memphis between January and June of this year. Chattanooga received 60, Nashville 15 and 14 in Knoxville.
“The city of Memphis is given far more Pilot opportunities than a lot of areas throughout the region,” Halbert explained.
Those numbers are for the city and not just EDGE. Dulberger said those numbers are not accurate.
“There’s mass confusion about the number of Pilots and who issues Pilots. There are eight or nine entities throughout Shelby County who issue Pilots. In total there are probably about 230 to 250 Pilot projects that are out there,” Dulberger stated.
Halbert also said there’s questions about eminent domain which means you can take property, including personal property.
That would have to be approved.
Halbert said a date to discuss this issue hasn’t been set been set at this time.
